Campaign Launched to Encourage Students to Vote

Alanna Makinson of the Canadian Federation of Students speaks during the launch of the "Students Vote" campaign in front of Wesley Hall at the University of Winnipeg on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. (MAURICE BRUNEAU / CHRISD.CA)

Post-secondary Manitoba students launched a campaign Wednesday to encourage their peers to vote in the upcoming municipal election.

“Students and young people deserve to have their voices heard and their visions made a priority in City Hall,” said Alanna Makinson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba. “Getting more students out to the polls will do exactly that”.

The “Students Vote” campaign was launched on the University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba and College Universitaire de St. Boniface campuses.

Students are facing a number of issues that they say need attention during the mayoral campaign, such as affordable housing, affordable and accessible public transportation, the continuation of the Bus Rapid Transit corridor to the University of Manitoba, the elimination of private water in municipal owned and operated facilities and accountability within City Hall.

“Students at Universities across Winnipeg are anxiously waiting for the completion of the Rapid Transit corridor to the University of Manitoba, among other important issues” said Heather Laube, President of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union. “It’s up to students to get to the polls, and show that our votes count.”

The Students Vote campaign will also be collecting “pledges to vote” from students at all three campuses.